Zittende man aan een tafel met een opengeslagen bijbel 1787

This undated drawing by Abraham van Strij, presents a man seated at a table with an open bible, rendered in muted grey tones. The composition is dominated by the geometric forms of the table and the book, which create a sense of structured order. The chair acts as a frame, enclosing the man within the pictorial space. Van Strij uses a tonal palette, achieving depth and volume through subtle gradations of light and shadow. His focus on the seated man can be interpreted through the lens of Enlightenment individualism, emphasizing the solitary contemplation of religious texts. The artist's choice to depict the figure in a moment of reflection disrupts traditional religious art conventions, inviting viewers to ponder the relationship between the individual and divine knowledge.